Guests staying at one of the three official Disneyland Resort hotels receive access to perks not available to others, including a complimentary Lightning Lane reservation. Many of these benefits are seasonal events and hosted onsite at the hotels themselves, providing fun alternatives to spending time in the theme parks.
Throughout July, guests staying overnight at Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, or Pixar Place Hotel can take advantage of 8 perks. We have the full list of benefits and when they're happening. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including menu changes at Disneyland and a new $71 Disneyland ticket deal.
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Dug's Dance Party!
Dug's Dance Party! is a limited-time experience at Pixar Place Hotel. Every Friday evening through August 28, 2026, guests can join Dug the dog from Up for dancing on the rooftop lawn.
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Dug appears in person, but dances along with guests rather than posing for formal family photos or signing autographs.
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Toy Story 5 Art Gallery
The Art of Pixar Gallery, located on the second floor of Pixar Place Hotel, rotates its displays to coincide with the latest movie releases from Pixar Animation Studios. Guests can visit at any time.
The gallery currently features concept drawings, sculptures, and paintings created by artists during the development of Toy Story 5. It's fascinating to compare some of this design work to the finished film.
Disney Poolside Splash Bash!
All three Disneyland Resort hotels are hosting the Disney Poolside Splash Bash! pool parties this summer featuring appearances by Pixar characters. Disney's official publicity photo for this event teased appearances by Woody, Jessie, and Bo Peep from Toy Story.
During Disney Poolside Splash Bash!, guests can participate in trivia challenges, meet characters, and hear music from across the decades.
Disney Poolside Splash Bash! takes place at the hotels' pool areas every Sunday and Thursday through September 6, 2026, at the following times:
- 11:00 AM at Disneyland Hotel
- 2:15 PM at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- 4:00 PM at Pixar Place Hotel
Lizzie McGuire and Pixar Movie Nights
Two Disneyland Resort hotels are hosting outdoor movie nights throughout July.
Every Monday at 8:00 PM, guests at Pixar Place Hotel can enjoy a screening of 2009's Up, the heartwarming story of how elderly Carl attaches balloons to his house and flies to South America, on the third-floor pool deck.
Every Wednesday at 8:00 PM, guests at Disneyland Hotel can watch 2003's The Lizzie McGuire Movie on the Frontier Lawn, reliving Lizzie's class field trip to Rome, where she gets mistaken for a famous pop star.
Special Character Appearance from Soul
Guests can see Joe Gardner, the piano teacher from Soul, at Pixar Place Hotel throughout July in one of Disneyland's most unique character appearances. Rather than posing for photos or signing autographs, Joe plays the piano live near the lobby staircase.
Disney says to consult the hotel activities calendar for Joe Gardner's set times. You can also ask a cast member at the front desk.
Drawing Class
A drawing class is offered to guests at The Sketch Pad Café at Pixar Place Hotel every Wednesday in July at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM.
This is a complimentary program, and all supplies are provided, making your creation a great free souvenir. Alternatively, Animation Academy inside Disney California Adventure also provides drawing classes daily.
Friendship Bracelets
Guests can make their own Friendship Bracelets in July at two Disneyland Resort hotels. All supplies are provided.
In July, the Friendship Bracelet activity takes place on the third-floor landing at Disney's Californian Hotel & Spa every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, and in the Discovery Den at Disneyland Hotel every Saturday at 4:00 PM.
This activity is free, but Disney recommends making a reservation by inquiring at your hotel's front desk.
Make Your Own Washcloth Animal
Disneyland housekeeping cast members host a washcloth animal-making class just for hotel guests, teaching pupils how to shape ordinary washcloths into critters like the ones they sometimes make from towels and leave for guests to find in their hotel rooms. Washcloths are provided, and guests get to take home their animal as a free souvenir.
The washcloth animal activity happens in the Discovery Den at Disneyland Hotel every Wednesday in July at 9:30 AM.
Top photo via Richard Harbaugh / Disneyland.
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